School providing e-books and no paper books for Reception

[Mummyoply]

My DS is in reception year and the school provide his reading books via an app and ask that children read them on an electronic device, iPad, phone or e-reader.

I have been purchasing the books, if the library don't have them (which they usually don't). This is too costly and also causes a delay, as by the time we get the book my DS has been moved on to another.

I guess my AIBU is, AIBU to refuse to allow him to read on a device and just provide books of the same level (from the library) so he can read a real book? I have emailed the school and message his teacher directly but had no response from either. I've even drawn a blank from the PTA.

I feel for the schools. The older books they have can be outdated and people complain about them. The variety isn’t great and leaves some children with choices that don’t encourage them to read. Schools are dealing with additional costs because of the increase in utilities, wages etc. whilst it isn’t ideal to use ebooks as a reading platform it certainly works out cheaper with a greater option for the children to actually read something they would enjoy. That leaves money for things that schools wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford, like decent PE equipment or creating outdoor learning areas etc. I totally get why some parents might not like this but they end up having to go with improving the school facilities in any way they can using PTA money and personally I would prefer it be used for something like that than updating an entire library.

We had this and all signed a petition as nobody wanted their children increasing screentime

We used the attached to support our argument as the DfE do not encourage screentime but promote actual
Books

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/1050849/ReadinggframeworkTeachinggthefoundationssofliteracyy-Julyy2021Jann22_update.pdf

Offstead apparently don't really think it's ideal

@Russell19

I'm a reception teacher and think it's terrible. My class have 2 or 3 actual books a week. Surely the school have some old scheme reading books they could give you? Your next contact would be the chair of governors. Their email should be on the website. Or do you know who the literacy or reading lead is?

Thank you, it's good to hear a teachers opinion. I'm not sure who the literacy lead is, I'm sure I can find out though . Thank you for the tip

@toomuchlaundry

In what way do you object to technology? Technology is going to play a huge part in your DC’s education

But not at 4 years old?! And reading from a screen is terrible in so many ways, as lots of research proves......

@FairyCakeWings

How many of them are likely to have kindles that can access the school app though? I have a kindle but I don’t think I could access a school scheme on it. In reality children will be reading on tablets or phones. Awful.

Yes I agree and the app isn't great. I logged on to it and it's really hard to see the writing well, I couldn't make the font bigger and one book would only show me the cover. It's the Collins App for those who are familiar with it.

@toomuchlaundry

With remote provision I am assuming they will already have checked what technology DC have access to

No one has checked with me......

@OfstedOffred

Yanbu. Screens are addictive. Even e-readers are often emitting some blue light that has the potential to mess with sleep patterns etc.

Not to mention with an e reader you take an appealing colour illustrated book that a 5 year will enjoy, and make it a dull black and white.

Talk to your PTA. Suggest a specific fundraiser to purchase physical books.

Good points and I will!

@oviraptor21

I agree OP. There's also evidence that reading and study from physical books is more effective than from screens. I would be doing all I could to preserve real books and minimise screen time.

@toomuchlaundry

Do you know how much a set of class reading books would cost?

Do the school have a phonics scheme?

I don't but it would be really useful to know so I have a rough figure to start my fundraising campaign. Do you know?

YANBU at all

I think this is really unfair to this families who can't afford a device. YANBU

[quote toomuchlaundry]If you are an expert at getting grants maybe signpost your school to this

www.foylefoundation.org.uk/how-to-apply/state-schools.php[/quote]
Amazing thank you, yes I apply for lots of grants/capital project funding as part of my day job so I'm assuming it's a similar process to get grants for schools - I'm new to the PTA, this is my first project.

@toomuchlaundry

Some schools share teachers, especially if in a Trust, so may have a teacher beaming into a number of schools at a time. Again it is mainly to do with funding, but also sharing expertise.

How big a school is it @Mummyoply?

It's a medium sized village school, 2 classes per year

@TrendingNowt Really? All Reception children in all schools get taught phonics using screens? Not in my school they don't. The generalisations are so helpful . . .

@DePfeffoff

Out of sheer curiosity, what happens if the family in question simply doesn't have screens at home at all or if, say, the only screens the parents have are phones which they need for work? Would the school provide them?

And what if they are only phones? It seems really undesirable for children to be trying to practise reading from a tiny screen.

I really don't know TBH, but the school have repeatedly told parents not to 'worry' if they don't have an e-reader or tablet because everyone has a phone so your child can just read on that!

This is one phonics scheme, obviously includes costs of other resources and teacher training but does also detail the cost of a set of books to give you an idea of costs @Mummyoply

admin.ruthmiskin.com/media/uploads/website/rwi_btp_package.pdf

@toomuchlaundry

To be fair governors are strategic not operational so the reading scheme may not come up in meetings.

Is this a standalone school or part of an Academy Trust?

Have you joined the PTA to help with the fundraising?

It's a stand alone school and yes I was asked to join the PTA to help with grant applications

Our primary school re used the books every year and replaced when dog eared. Surely they've already got all the books and don't need to get any more so should have enough

Have you tried your local library? Or Biff and Chip sets second hand? My daughter really struggled reading on a screen and I paid a fortune for books before realising our library had a lot of phonics reading books.

Do we hold tablets and phones differently to how we hold books. Has it been assessed for long term damage and RSI problems?

Can you find out which scheme and level DC is on (or even better, ask at the end of each half term what level they'll be on after the hols), then buy a bundle of that level's books on ebay or Facebook marketplace? Once DC has moved onto the next level the books can be sold on, usually for what was paid for them, so it is a cost-effective way of doing it. If you were feeling generous and can afford it, rather than selling the books on they could be gifted to school for use with otherswho do not get on with ebooks.

During lockdown this time last year, DD2 was in reception and being sent photos of each page of the week's phonics book plus links to ebooks on Oxford Owl (these were 'for pleasure'). Obviously this was a 'make the best of it' situation, but we did not get on with them at all. Not least because my laptop has a touch screen, and every time 4yo DD wanted to point something out in the picture, the whole page would turn/disappear/zoom. I bought new black and white copies of the 12 scheme books at the level she was on via Amazon, so we could use a hard copy. IIRC, it was about £12 for the set (delivered!), which I sold on for £9. £3 for, essentially, the hire of 12 books seemed a good deal to me.

As reading lead it has just cost shy of £8k to start replacing our unsuitable reading books.

@Abraxan

It'll be due to cost. School budgets are limited and can only go so far.

Whilst schools have to pay for the online e-library, it's still cheaper than how much buying multiple copes of the same books, across the entire school, will cost. We need more than one copy of many of the books, esp in the earlier books, for each class. When they go home many are not returned or get damaged, so have to be replaced.

Yes, but have schools got less money now than before reading e-books became available ? Learning to read should be top priority for Reception children!

@Pinkflipflop85

As reading lead it has just cost shy of £8k to start replacing our unsuitable reading books.

Why are they unsuitable?

@Bitofachinwag They're unsuitable because current thinking is that children should only be reading books that include the sounds they have been taught.

Different schemes teach the sounds in a different order, which means they appear in books in a certain order. They're not necessarily compatible with other schemes.

And yes, schools have a lot less money. Our budgets are in crisis and have been for some time.